Flange protectors for yarn beams



Oct. 28, 1969 G. L. CLARK ET AL 3,474,900

\ FLANGE PROTECTORS FOR YARN BEAMS 7 Filed Dec. 14, 1967 INVENTORS GLEN L. CLARK BY ROBERT A. KIRBY ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,474,900 FLANGE PROTECTORS FOR YARN BEAMS Glen L. Clark and Robert A. Kirby, Columbia, S.C., as-

signors to Allied Chemical Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Dec. 14, 1967, Ser. No. 690,577 Int. Cl. B65h 75/14 US. Cl. 206--59 5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Circular members constructed from sturdy fiberboard are designed to facilitate quick installation and removal from the barrel of a yarn beam for the protection of the beam flanges from scratches and nicks normally caused during shipment of the beams after the yarn has been removed. The flange protectors are disc-like members which fit snugly against the inside walls of the beam flanges.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention is related to the protection of yarn beam flanges from getting nicked or scratched during shipment of the empty beams by the customer back to the yarn producer. In the present practice yarn is shipped to textile producers on yarn beams which are emptied of the yarn and returned to the yarn producer with the beam flanges exposed. Although the textile processors generally take precautions against the damaging of these exposed flanges, the amount of damage is substantial during the return shipment and handling. A large percentage of returned beams require excessive work to remove the scratches and nicks from the beam flange surfaces.

Before the returned beams can be used to store yarn on them again the damaged spots must be removed to prevent snagging of the yarn. The repair is usually accomplished by buffing and refinishing depending upon the severity of the damage. Obviously, deep gauges and grooves cannot be completely removed through normal cleaning and polishing. Many of the flanges have to be sanded and some even require machining to remove the damaged spots. Since this type of repair reduces the web thickness many of the beams must be scrapped prematurely. In any event the cost of repairing and replacing the beams upon return is quite substantial if the exposed flanges are not protected. Moreover, less cleaning, is required if the flanges are kept clean.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention a circular blank or disc is cut from a stock or sheet of sturdy fiberboard or similar type material. The circular blank is precut to fit snugly around the cylindrical barrel of a yarn beam in such a manner that the internal portion of the disc is supported on the barrel thereby holding the disc tightly against the inside face of the flange. This is accomplished by inscribing a circular fold-crease line concentric with the center of the blank or disc. The circle is divided into a plurality of equal sections by cutting from the center out to the fold-crease line. The triangular sections are folded back along the fold-crease line which has a diameter in size corresponding to the beam barrel. In case a small hole is cut initially at the center of the disc, truncated sections will be formed. Both triangular, truncated, and other shaped sections are considered to be suitable for this invention.

The blank or disc is cut from the fold-crease line to the outer edge to provide an entry to the central portion thereof. Preferably the cut consists of a single, straightline cut which permits the folding back of one quarter of ice the disc. The protector is placed on the yarn barrel immediately after yarn runout via the distorted opening. Once the folded portion is released it springs back into its original position and then can be slid against the beam flange.

The flange protectors of this invention are cut from sheets of materials such as fiberboard, paperboard, cardboard :and the like which may or may not be corrugated. They are dimensioned to fit the particular size beams on which they are the be used. The essential requirements of the type material employed are that it possesses sulficient strength and resilience to be self-supported against the flange by the folded-back triangular sections mounted on the barrel. The material should have a thickness suflicient to absorb the shock of contacts made with the flanges during their transport and handling.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of the product of this invention illustrating the location of the cut and folding lines which facilitate the installation of the prod- PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings in detail and particularly FIGURE 1, there is shown a flange protector 10 after having been cut from a sheet of stock material such as fiberboard, not shown, by stamping with dies or other conventional means. The member 10 is prepared for installation on a yarn beam by making a small hole 12 in the center thereof and making cuts along lines 14 that extend radially outward to a point of termination marked by a circular fold-crease line 16 concentrically disposed around the centered hole 12. The cut along lines 14 divide the central portion of member 10 circumscribed by line 16 into a multiple number of truncated sections 18 that are capable of being folded from the major plane of member 10 along the fold-crease line 16. The diameter of the circular fold-crease line is determined by the size of the yarn beam barrel. Preferably, the size of the hole after folding back the truncated sections is dimensioned so that the flange protector 10 fits snugly around the barrel of the yarn beam. In order to provide an entry from the periphery of member 10 to the central portion opening, a cut-through is made along line 20. A foldcrease line 22 is made one quarter of the way around member 10 from the cut-through to facilitate easier separation of the flange protector at the line 20.

FIGURE 2 illustrates the flange protector member 10 distorted to cause separation at the cut 20. The truncated sections 18 are folded back perpendicularly to the face of member 10. The hole formed by the folded sections 18 is equal to the size of the beam barrel. Installation of the distorted member 10 is quickly accomplished by simply opening the washer-shaped protector 10 as shown in FIGURE 2 and placing it on the barrel of the beam. Once the protector is placed upon the barrel it can he slid laterally against the inside face of the beam flange. A second protector is similarly placed against the other beam flange.

As illustrated in FIGURE 3, the flange protector 10 is positioned on the beam 26 and can be slid flush against flange 24 as indicated by the arrows. For good protection the marginal edges 28 of the protectors should extend to or slightly beyond the periphery of the flanges. It is important that the protector 10 remain flush against the flange during transporting and handling the empty beams. A tight fit is imposed by the folded-back sections 18 which are contiguous with the outer surface of the beam barrel 26. Thus, the section 18 fit tightly around the beam barrel and function as support members for the protector 10. Preferably the protectors are constructed from materials having suflicient thickness and resilience to cause the support members 18 to adhere tightly against the beam barrel thereby providing better support.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the yarn beams improved in accordance with this invention will be protected from scratches, nicks, dirt, grease and the like normally caused during shipment and handling of the empty yarn beams. The flange protectors greatly reduce the time ordinarily required to sand, machine, clean or polish the beam before winding yarn onto them to insure trouble-free takeoff of the yarn.

While the description herein is specific to the structure illustrated by the drawings, various modifications are contemplated within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An improved yarn beam comprising a cylindrical barrel and a pair of end flanges wherein the improvement consists of removable flange protectors supported flush against the inside walls of said flanges by support members mounted on said cylindrical barrel.

2. The yarn beam of claim 1 in which the flange protectors are comprised of fiberboard.

3. The yarn beam of claim 1 in which said support members are integral with the flange protectors.

4. A method for preparing yarn beams, after removal of yarn, for shipment and handling which comprises cutting a disc-like member from a sheet of material to form a flange protector; selectively sectioning the interior portion of said disc-like member by cutting from the center thereof radially outward to terminal points concentrically disposed about said center along a fold-crease line; folding said sections along the fold-crease line perpendicularly to the disc-like members; making a cut from the foldcrease line to the margin of said disc-like member; opening the disc-like member at said cut and placing said member around the barrel of a yarn beam having flanges; and sliding the disc-like member against the inside face of said flanges.

5. The method of claim 4 in which the flange protector is held tightly against the flange by a multiple number of support members.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,615,564 10/1952 Post. 3,013,378 12/1961 Newton 2O6-59 JAMES B. MARBERT, Primary Examiner 

